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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Beware of computer vision syndrome Eye protein is the culprit for allergies!
Right posture can prevent computer-related body-aches
How serious is mobile threat to health? Control asthma while pregnant Forgiving makes a person healthier Ayurveda & you
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Beware of computer vision syndrome
The causes Visual problems: People who are already near-sighted, far-sighted, or have astigmatism are more likely to develop computer vision syndrome. Multi-focal lenses make it even more difficult because the screen is higher and further away from the zones meant for distance and near. Computer glare and reflection: Glare from surrounding lamps and lights can also lead to eyestrain. Improper workstation design: One of the most common problems in the workstation set-up is that the monitor of the computer is placed too high. The top of the screen should be at the eye level. This is because the ideal gaze angle is 10 to 20 degrees below the eye. A screen that is too high can lead to dry, irritated eyes as you blink less frequently. It also causes headaches and neck and upper back pain because the head is tilted back to see. Dry environment and dehydration: These two very common occurrences in the workplace and home office can worsen the problem of irritated and dry eyes. The air quality is poor in many offices. To make matters worse, computer work can be very engrossing and you may forget to get something to drink. Or you may not feel you have the time to get up Reading new, unfamiliar material at work:
When you strain to catch hold of unfamiliar information and have to do it on a tight deadline, the mind can become stressed and agitated. And when there is mental agitation or stress, this is transmitted to the whole upper body - the arms, shoulders, neck and head. This is why reading at work can be so draining and exhausting. But then you can go home and watch television for three hours or sink into your favourite chair with a magazine. Mental states can interfere with normal vision. CVS is caused when the eyes and brain react differently to characters on the screen than they do to printed characters. Normally, eyes have little problem focusing on most printed material, which is characterized by dense black characters with well-defined edges. Healthy eyes can easily maintain focus on the printed page. Characters on a computer screen, however, don’t have this contrast or well-defined edges. These characters (pixels) are brightest at the centre and diminish in intensity toward their edges. This makes it very difficult for our eyes to maintain focus and remain fixed onto these images. Instead, our eyes drift out to a point called the “resting point of accommodation” or RPA.This continuous flexing of the eyes focusing muscles creates fatigue and a feeling of tired eyes that are so common after long hours at the computer. Nowadays, not only adults but also more and more children are using computers and for extended periods. Sitting for hours in front of a computer screen stresses a child’s eyes because the computer forces the child’s vision system to focus and strain a lot more than any other task. CVS not only affects the eyes but also leads to other kinds of aches and pain. Trying to avoid monitor glare often leads to improper posture which causes backache, neck-ache, etc. So, then, how can we avoid CVS, especially when a computer has become an essential part of our workplace and also at home? Use proper lighting Eyestrain is often caused by excessively bright light coming in from outside and excessively bright light inside. When you use a computer, the ambient lighting should be about half that used in most offices. Eliminate exterior light by closing drapes, shades, or blinds. Reduce interior lighting by using fewer light bulbs or fluorescent tubes, or use lower intensity bulbs and tubes. If possible, position your monitor so that windows are to the side of it, instead of in front or back. Minimise glare Glare on walls and finished surfaces as well as reflections on the computer screen itself can also cause eyestrain. You may want to install an anti-glare screen on your monitor. Again, when outside light cannot be reduced, use a computer hood. Have an anti-reflective coating applied to your glasses. This will prevent glare and reflections on the backside of your lenses from reaching your eyes. Adjust the brightness of your computer screen Closely match the brightness of the environment with that of your computer screen, by using the buttons on the monitor. Also adjust the monitor to make sure the contrast between the screen background and the on-screen characters is high. And make sure that the text size and colour are optimised for the most comfort. Also, position your desk lamp so that it doesn’t shine on the computer screen or into your eyes. Blink more often Blinking is very important when working at a computer — it rewets your eyes to avoid dryness and irritation. According to studies, people blink less frequently — about five times less than normally when working at a computer. Tears coating the eye evaporate more rapidly during long non-blinking phases and cause dry eyes. Office buildings may have excessively dry environment that also reduces tearing. Also try this exercise: every 30 minutes blink 10 times by closing your eyes as if falling asleep (very slowly). Exercise and stretch your eyes Look away from your computer screen every 30 minutes, and focus for 5-10 seconds on a distant object outside. Another exercise to readjust your focusing is to look far away at an object for 10-15 seconds and then near for 10-15 seconds, rocking your focusing back and forth between near and far. Do this 10 times. Both of these exercises will help you prevent strained near vision and stretch your focusing muscles. Take frequent breaks Follow 20-20-20 rule. Take a 20-second break and look 20 feet away every 20 minutes. Modify your workstation If you need to look back and forth between a printed page and your computer screen, this can cause eyestrain. Place written pages on a copy stand and adjacent to the monitor. Adjust your workstation and chair to the correct height. Purchase ergonomic furniture to insure proper screen locations and posture. Exercise even when sitting Anyone in a sedentary job, especially those using computers, should stand up, move about, or exercise their arms, legs, back, neck and shoulders frequently. While these measures will resolve the issue in many cases, it is recommended that the eye care practitioner be visited for consultation whenever symptoms of computer vision syndrome are observed. The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre of Sight, New
Delhi
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Eye protein is the culprit for allergies!
Washington: Scientists of the University College London have found a protein in the eye which plays a critical role in the development of an allergic response. Working on mice, the researchers found the protein known as MIP- 1a, which plays a crucial role in the earliest stages of a developing eye allergy, and said that the action of the protein may lead to new treatments for allergic diseases. In fact, they believe that it should be possible to develop drug treatments to block the protein and thus prevent allergies from taking hold. Allergic responses develop in two phases. The first phase involves an immediate hypersensitivity reaction within one hour of exposure to an allergen. In this phase mast cells, which are responsible for causing allergies release histamine and other molecules such as
chemokines, and MIP-1a is one such chemokine. The second phase, which occurs 12 to 24 hours after exposure, involves the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the site of inflammation. The UCL team discovered that MIP-1a plays a key role in the early stages of an allergic response within the clear membrane that coats the inner surface of the eyelid and outer surface of the eye, known as the conjunctiva. MIP-1a was also necessary for the second phase of the disease, which is associated with chronic allergy. “Since we have found that MIP-1a is important for very early stages of allergy, the treatment may be more effective than drugs that work at late stages of the disease process, such as anti-histamines,” said Professor Santa Jeremy Ono, lead author of the study. “This would, however, be a treatment and not a cure. However, we do have some evidence that the drug may be effective for longer periods of time than the existing medications,” he added. — ANI
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Right posture can prevent Lifestyle in general is changing fast to remote-controlled devices instead of going out for a morning walk. It is a very painful decision to leave the comfort of bed and quilt in the morning. Late-risers dive in the bath quickly with a running breakfast to reach office in time. The young ones crazy for call centres with the night shifts are really growing with all lazy habits and are more prone to back and neck problems besides sleep hangovers. There is no time for exercise. You can see dark halos around their eyes. Sitting in front of a computer with relaxed low back and a dorsal hump is the saggiest posture and one can always develop a chronic backache. In this posture, the neck also remains in a hyper extended position. Many days to many months of sitting in this posture can create a sudden catch, which gives a painful back or neck. Another wrong posture is sliding down in the chair or bed and taking a semi-sitting position to watch a movie on the computer or TV. The suffering age group is between 23 and 36 years as per clinical study. This generation is mostly fond of western tasty stuff or junk food like Coke and Tetra juices, noodles and pizzas, coffee and pasta, burgers or foot-longs. Some have the southern tongue and go for idli-sambar and masala- dosa or the northern taste buds for potato tikki, samosa or chatt. It is called junk food because it does not provide much nutrition to the body and passes off as a “quick kick” to the body like alcohol. Watch this computer scene from three angles: 1 — bad posture; 2 — junk food and 3 — no exercise. If this continues, physically speaking, the future form of human body is not very bright. The human machine can give way to many diseases like diabetes and colitis. This is the age when sports activity is undertaken to the maximum to utilise the extra calories consumed through junk food. The remedy lies in regular exercise for back and neck muscles before the start of work or in the morning for the day-long work. The exercise is a must to give you a good posture at work because this is the best food for the body. The back muscles should support your back and neck. The exercise for whole back is spinal extension exercise. If you lie on your bed with face down or in prone position, keep limbs on the sides of your body, slowly raise your head and shoulders, stay for a moment and go back to your position. Repeat the action at least 20 times. Do it as a first thing in the morning as you open your eyes for the day. Add a zing of sports to your lifestyle. Play a game or two of badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis or squash every day. Instead of playing computer games, play physical games to keep fit. Just 10 minutes of swimming everyday can keep your body perfect for work. The muscle action in our body is controlled by certain bio-chemical changes. The muscles are starved of oxygen when there is no exercise. The tissue starts accumulating lactic acid, which make it fatigued and painful. The contraction spasm is so severe in an atmosphere of nitrogen that it does not allow the muscle to relax. So, by not allowing the body to exercise we deprive our muscles of much-needed oxygen. The result is pain and spasm. Computer has become a part of our life. It needs electricity to run while our body requires electricity in the form of exercise to operate the computer. So, the three angles should change to three principals: one, daily exercise will prepare you to take a correct “straight back” posture while sitting before the computer. Two, avoid too much of junk food and change to a balanced diet, including fruit, green vegetables and a glass of milk. Three, choose any physical activity from outdoor games — swimming, morning walk and jogging or indoor gym — to keep fit and kicking. The writer, a senior orthopaedic surgeon, was earlier associated with the PGI, Chandigarh, and Liverpool, UK.
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How serious is mobile threat to health?
CHANDIGARH: Mobile phones have created a stir with their arrival. If a few
years ago, it made the Indian population sit up and look at its amazing range to cut down distances, its flip side is unfolding with each passing day. We are not hinting at the infamous MMS scandal and filming of pornography through the slick gadgets here, but are talking about health conscious individuals who have begun to scream about the harmful affects of radiation on the avid users. The supporters of the “use it less” theory say that the constant ringing or even the jerking vibrator can cause harm to one’s health. They cite various studies to point out that mobile phones can entail serious health hazards due to radiation if they are used in excess. The neurologists at premier institutions like the PGI, however, say that in the absence of any documented studies in the country, it is too early to brand the cell phones as health hazards. However, they seem to have consensus on the fundamental fact that “use the cell phones for as less a time as possible.” The former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr G.S. Kochhar, belongs to the former category as he cites several international studies to stress on the harmful effects of the cell phone. He says that be it brain, heart or even male fertility, mobile usage can affect it all. According to him, a study at Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has found that the radiation from the mobile phones can cause damage to human cells that might effect the brain. It could disable the blood brain barrier, which is the safety mechanism that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain from the blood stream. He says that some other studies have also pointed out that the heat produced by the R F radiation from cell phones may be associated with brain tumour. “The British military scientists have discovered that cell phone transmission disrupts the brain sides for memory and learning, causing forgetfulness and sudden confusion. It reduces the ability to concentrate, calculate and coordinate,” he adds. “Even the hands-free kits are no guarantee for lowering the radiation level as claimed by the cellular companies,” asserts Dr Kochhar. On the other hand, Dr Parampreet Singh of the Department of Neurology, PGI, says that a good study in India needs to prove the harmful effects on the population. “So far what we gather is speculation. A serious study should tell us whether the cell phones are serious health hazards,” he says.
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Control asthma while pregnant
WASHINGTON: Pregnant women need to keep their asthma under control, because if they cannot breathe properly, neither can the unborn baby, according to new US guidelines. Although asthma drugs may affect the developing baby, they pose less of a risk than the breathing problems caused by asthma, the panel of experts who issued the guidelines said. “The evidence is reassuring, and suggests that it is safer to take medications than to have asthma exacerbations,” said Dr Barbara Alving, acting director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which directed the panel. “The guidelines should be a useful tool for physicians to develop optimal asthma management plans for pregnant women.” Asthma affects more 20 million Americans and is one of the most common potentially serious medical conditions to complicate pregnancy. The panel estimated it affects up to 8 per cent of pregnant women, who may be afraid to take drugs to control their condition. “Simply put, when a pregnant patient has trouble breathing, her foetus also has trouble getting the oxygen it needs,” said Dr William Busse of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, who chaired the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Asthma is associated with increased risk of infant death, preeclampsia — a serious condition marked by high blood pressure — premature birth, and low birth weight. And in 30 per cent of women who have mild asthma at the beginning of their pregnancy, the asthma worsens. The guidelines say that albuterol, an inhaled drug, should be used for quick relief and kept on hand. Women with asthma symptoms at least two days a week or two nights a month have persistent asthma and need daily medication. Inhaled corticosteroids, notably budesonide, are the preferred drugs, the panel said.
— Reuters
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Forgiving makes a person healthier
Washington: A new study, which has been published in the journal “Harvard Women’s Health Watch,” has found that the old adage “forgive and forget” not only makes you happier it also makes you healthier. The study found that forgiving people reduces stress, makes your heart rate improve and also keeps your blood pressure under control, reports Healthscout. The researchers said that forgiveness reduces stress. Nursing a grudge can place the same strains, on your body with tense muscles, elevated blood pressure and increased sweating. They also said that the heart will benefit if you’re able to forgive. A study found a link between forgiving and improvements in the heart rate and blood pressure. The report indicated that women who were able to forgive their spouses and feel kind-hearted towards them resolved conflicts more effectively. People with chronic back pain had less pain and anxiety when they practised meditation, focusing on converting anger to compassion. It also said that by forgiving another person, you make yourself, not the person who may have hurt you, responsible for your happiness. People who talk about forgiveness during psychotherapy experience greater improvements than people who don’t discuss forgiveness, said the survey.
— ANI
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Ayurveda & you The high-purines diet which a patient of uric acid should curtail includes non-vegetarian food such as red meat, fish, chicken and organ meats like that of liver. Intake of vegetarian diet consisting of legumes and lentils, especially horse gram and black gram (urad daal), tomato, brinjal, spinach, citrous and sour fruits and milk products like curd and cheese also needs to be regulated. Reducing the consumption of alcoholic drinks and fried food items taken along with these are additionally helpful in controlling uric acid. Mild and fresh cases of hyperuricemia respond well to the measures of dietary and lifestyle modifications. Under no circumstance should one consume a diet which increases acidity in the stomach. Instead, one should opt for light and easily digestible meals. A patient of uric acid should drink plenty of water. Controlling the body weight through exercise and diet helps relieve gout pain and its other symptoms. There are a number of simple but effective home remedies consisting of single herbs and their combinations which lower the uric acid level. Foremost of these is the celebrated giloy; giving daily for two to three months 20 ml of fresh juice of its stem shows very good results. Daily taking two gm powder of hararh with a little of jaggery or the simple triphla churna in the same quantity with water also helps in lowering the uric acid level. For stubborn cases, taking a combination of two to three gm of powder of shatavar, gorakhmundi, dry giloy and triphala, all mixed in equal parts, is an effective remedy. Apart from the application of specialised panchkarma therapy, the classic ayurvedic treatment of high uric acid and gout unfolds a wide range of medicines. Most common of these are the Kaishore Guggul and the Amritadi Guggul, and either of these can be given up to three gm a day in divided doses. Vatraktantak Rasa, Arogyavardhini Vati, Rasamanikya, Nimbadi Churna and Shatavryadi Ghrit are some of the other important medicines which are selected according to the severity and chronicity of the problem. The famous Brihad Manjishthadi Qwath serves as a good adjunct with all of these medicines. Gaduchyadi Taila, if applied gently over the affected joints, relieves swelling and stiffness faster. Fresh and mild-to-moderate cases of uric acid respond well to the treatment. Ayurvedic texts mention that if given to the dietary indiscipline where a patient doesn’t exclude the offending substances from his food, this problem turns to be chronic and a stage is reached when the patient has to take some medicine on a regular basis. In cases of damaged or deformed joints, regular medicated massage and physiotherapeutic measures should also be applied. |
DO you spend more than two hours a day working on a computer? Do you sometimes experience headaches, loss of focus, burning/tired eyes, double or blurred vision or neck and shoulder pains? If the answer of any of the above questions is yes, then there are high chances are that you suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS is a term used to describe eye strain and tiredness, temporary weak vision, dry irritated eyes, light sensitivity and other vision and muscular problems that stem from using a computer.
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